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Check engine light

Tiny
LRC
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • 80,000 MILES
After being on the road approx. 20 mins. The check engine light started flashing and the cal idles rough and has very little power on take off, why did the check engine light start flashing while I was driving?
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 AT 10:00 PM

24 Replies

Tiny
DRCRANKNWRENCH
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,380 POSTS
This means the car has stored a code and you must read it to see what the problem is here is a guide to help you see how to get the codes.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please let us know what you find.

Cheers
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 AT 10:46 PM
Tiny
DUDDY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have a 96 Thunderbird v8 mine did same thing turn out to be misfire change plugs & wires you should be good hope it helps.
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Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 AT 11:47 PM
Tiny
DRCRANKNWRENCH
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,380 POSTS
If you have not changed the plug and wires it is time to do so anyway.
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-1
Friday, May 4th, 2012 AT 8:38 PM
Tiny
DJCL
  • MECHANIC
  • 767 POSTS
A flashing mil lamp is to warn you to not drive the car. It will flash if there is a miss fire and damage to the cat will happen. Have some one check the secondary ignition system. Don't keep driving the car like that.
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Friday, May 4th, 2012 AT 9:06 PM
Tiny
MMILLER6672
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 222,000 MILES
My 1996 Thunderbird is running fine and gas mileage remains good, except for the fact that it idles rough at it's normal idle of 700 to 750 rpm than automatically increases 1000 rpm smooths than dips to 500 rpm, rough again and the cycle repeats. Engine Warning light came on when this happened. What is most likely the cause?
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
How long since a tune-up? Check applicable trouble codes. Some of the national brand autostores used to check codes for free. Maybe you have a vacuum leak?
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
YOGI129
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 94,000 MILES
Engine Performance problem
1996 Ford Thunderbird V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 94000 miles

no cel before. No spark condition.I replaced computer. Code reader has link with it. Checked cps--good. Checked voltage at coil packs--good---continuity with groud -good. No spark to plugswhat now?/Please help---bought breakout box ebay--dont have it yet.
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
69TAMMY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 128,000 MILES
Computer problem
1996 Ford Thunderbird 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 128000 miles

My check engine light came on and took and had it put on computer and it read all 4 oxygen sensors were bad. Had all four changed and the chedk engine light is still on and also now has a miss in it when u get under 40 miles per hour. Can anyone suggest what might be going on or what can I do. The man working on it says he has hooked it back up to computer two times and one time it read 1 sensor bad and another time he said it read all 4 bad again. Could it be computer in car or what. Please help//
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Hi Tammy.
This could be a couple things, but I am thinking a major tune up. These sensors could be setting a code because the engine is not burning the fuel properly.

This is something that can be confirmed on the computer under block learn and several other test that can be performed.

But to save a lot of money in diag fees I would do a tune up this cures many issues. Billymac
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
69TAMMY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I ask the man today to check the plugs and wires and he says they look good. Should I go ahead and have him do it anyway. It will not pass inspection and I have until Mar 15 to get problem fixed or no tag. Just really discussed with this.I have had it at shop 2 days now and light is still on. Thank u and he has one of the hand held computers can he run scan to see if tune up is need on the hand held ones.
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • 120 MILES
Hello. The problem is when the car is idling, say at a stoplight. The engine idles rough and the volt gage dips and the car almost dies. This occurs several times while the car is not moving. It will dip then recover and so on. I have a check engine light activated as well. I sense a vacuum leak as occasionally I smell exhaust fumes. I had the codes read and it says running lean on bank 1 & bank 2. Thanks for the help!
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Lean running conditions are usually due to vacuum leaks so you need to have that checked and rectified. It is also causing the erratic idling.
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check your fuel pressure and next time send the codes to us. Check for vacuum leak check condition of battery as well clean throttle plate and iac on both sides with choke cleaner.
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
96T-BIRD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
Engine problem
1996 Ford Thunderbird V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 135000 miles

I have a 96 Ford T-bird with a V8. The check engine light starts flashing when I give it gas. I hooked it up to a diagnostic machine and it gave me the following codes: P1120 - TPS Censor out of range low, PO430 - Catalyst System efficiency below threshhold, and PO304 - Cylinder 4 misfire detected.
Unfortunately no-one at the auto shop had a book to tell me what these codes mean. Are these codes bad? It would be a real help if someone could help me figure out what these codes mean and what do I have to do to fix it.
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Catalyst efficency code deals with your catalytic converter, and chances are it is going bad, but it could be caused by the missfire on the cylinder #4, I would check into that first. If that doesnt clear it up then you will have to replace the catalytic converter.

The TPS out of range is more then likely a bad TPS or one that is not adjusted, it helps controll injector pulse and spark also. Coudl be causing hte missfire.
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARLOS1A
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • FORD THUNDERBIRD
1996 Thunderbird with 130,000 miles, it has a 3.8L V-6 engine. The trouble is the check engine light. Error code indicated a bad o2 sensor. Bank 2 Low. I replaced the O2 sensors all 4 of them, no help. The next scan left the same message and I was told that the catalytic converter may be bad. I'm not buying into that. Is there something else that would cause the bank 2 low error code? I cannot believe that the converter is bad. Thanks. Chip
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TAURUSWHEEL
  • MECHANIC
  • 718 POSTS
What code number or numbers?
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARLOS1A
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The code that I get out of it is P0430. They said the code was listed 2 times on Bank2.

Chip
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TAURUSWHEEL
  • MECHANIC
  • 718 POSTS
Well, after running thru the testing involved with that number, it's possible to arrive at the point where the cat would be declared chemically inactive, however there are numerous tests to run before arriving there, were any other codes noted besides the 0430? Why would you replace all four sensors? I would check with the dealer for cost involved running the necessary pinpoints.
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 AT 5:06 PM (Merged)

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